It is a great day for Chicago Bears fandom. The 2024 Hall of Fame class was announced and two franchise icons got in. Steve “Mongo” McMichael was inducted as a senior member, finally receiving his long-overdue recognition as a member of that iconic 1985 championship team. He was joined by Devin Hester, the greatest return man in NFL history. Even Julius Peppers got in. Everybody remembers his amazing contributions as a pass rusher between 2010 and 2013. There couldn’t be a better way to kick off an important off-season than this.
For those fans who might be a little more on the superstitious side, it might also bode well for the Bears’ draft plans. In their long history, there has only been one year where the organization sent somebody to the Hall of Fame while also selecting a quarterback in the 1st round of the draft. That was in 1982. Both George Musso and Doug Atkins got their gold jackets that year. That same off-season, the Bears took a young kid out of BYU with the 5th overall pick.
His name was Jim McMahon.
Timing might be on the Chicago Bears’ side.
They hold the #1 pick in the draft this year. All signs point to them selecting a quarterback, be it Caleb Williams or somebody else. This is the best opportunity they’ve had in years to land a true franchise guy. Everybody remembers what happened with McMahon. While never perfect, his leadership and intelligence were exactly what that team needed. He was the puppeteer for a loaded roster that ended up claiming a Super Bowl championship in ’85 and made the playoffs in five straight seasons. Fans still wonder how good he might’ve been if he’d stayed healthy.
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Hester and McMichael getting into the Hall of Fame set the tone for the Chicago Bears this off-season. More than luck is needed to build a championship team, but it sure doesn’t hurt to have good vibes. Poles is a former Bears undrafted free agent. If ever there were enough signs from the universe that this might finally be the year they land a viable franchise quarterback, it’s now.
McMahon and the ’85 Bears saved, sky-rocketed, and expanded interest in the NFL at the right time. In the stands I discerned that McMahon, Perry, and Payton received the greatest applause from the Wembley Stadium crowd in the exhibition game against America’s team, the Cowboys, on 8-3-86 (with snow flurries). The Bears won too.
@timgjerde56 I think what attracts players to a team (or college team) is the level of coaching they receive. Most players want to see a significant jump in their productivity every year. On a personal level, it helps leverage their contracts, but appearing on television (meaning they are winning), just draws players offers. Teams that understand they’ll lose players and coaches every year, are also teams that focus heavily on the quality and depth of their coaching groups. Every coaching group (except Special Teams) should have between 10-12 coaches every year. (If they are not successful, they’ll fire coaches, if… Read more »
Relying on superstition for a quarterback draft? I wish Bears writers worked a little harder at developing stories. If the Bears front office was reflected in the writing, we can all just give up and start rooting for someone else.
I get the issue with only 6 picks. In any other year where 33% of those are in the top 10, I’d agree. Trading JF1 provides at least one more, probably 2 if you ask for a second and a third or lower. Not picking at #1/2 would be foolish for the second year in a row. Yet, it is possible and I don’t have a problem if that’s the choice. I just got off the “absolutes” bandwagon. Poles will have options. Including trading the 2025 #1 or #2 for picks this year or something similar. Not saying that’s wise… Read more »
@timgjerde, yeah, you weren’t wrong, I just have a little more respect for Ditka and demand for dedication. Something I feel the new regime also has. That’s another point of frustration about this ownership; every team wants loyalty but it’s FREAKING Uncanny how little thought has been given to SO Many players from that team when it comes to coaching here?? Whether results were good or bad, look how many have gone on to coaching around the NFL but not here. Rivera got a sniff for 1 year and coordinated the best Defense we’d seen since that ’85 juggernaut and… Read more »